Rita No.8

18:55 CST, Galveston, Texas

Casting Off.

A brutally hot and humid day, from beginning to end.......it's far, far from ended.

It is astonishing how much stuff a single Ford Crown Victoria can digest, and still have room for a wayward Captain and two ship's cats.  But that will be our home for the next four to ten hours.

All to reach a destination only eighty miles distant.  It appears I will be prevented from reaching my primary and secondary refuges for the night, due to the herd of scared and confused drivers, herded nose-to-tail in their desperate need to go somewhere, anywhere.... even though it's only a few miles for several hours of a snail's pace drive.

The road reports indicate a five hour jam 'tween Galveston and Houston.  In that my route into the remoteness North and East of Houston might avoid some of that sheepleish lunacy, I hope for a less grinding ordeal.  Especially with two anxious cats in the car.

The boat is as ready as she can be.  Bow and stern, port and starboard....all lines are doubled, save for the springlines which must be rigged to soften the fore and aft surge of the hull, more gently.  Every bit of windage abovedecks has been either struck below, or jettisoned into the marina dumpster.  I have been necessarily merciless in my decisions as to what stays; what goes.  It will be an expensive process to re-equip, if indeed and if there is even a boat to re-equip.

Immediately after posting this, I'll grab a much needed shower, don my road clothes and put the last of my gear in the car.  The A/C will then be nestled onto the cabin sole, the cats carried to the car, and while they wait, I shall dog tightly the main companionway hatch.  Already, heavy nylon cinch-down straps bear on the fore and aft cabin hatches, and all ports have been strongly torqued.

None of which is proof against the intrustion of water being blasted into the cabin at better than 155 mph.

First teasing with a landfall perhaps distant enough to save the New Dawn, fickle Rita then ups the odds to spin forward as the Queen of All Storms, reigning over the gulf as a Category Five bitch!

I fart in her general direction!

Several things before I go.  First, my heartfelt thanks to each and every one who has sailed aboard the sloop New Dawn here with me over these past few days.  You have been gracious and welcome guests.  I'm honored to have sailed with you.

Next, my thanks to Abbi of CNN News.  Thank you for your kindness and genuine concern, even while soliciting my release to run with the saga of the New Dawn's most challenging voyage, ever.

Thanks also to my blogsis, Baldilocks.  You're the best, and you know it.  To Michelle Malkin.  Wow.  Instawho?  I've had three so-called Instalanches....combined, they don't add up to a half-day's traffic from you, ma'am.  I'm honored.  Likewise, my thanks to Laurence Simon and Misha.

On my blogroll are some of my best friends, and some of the finest people I've had the pleasure to have met in my forty-seven years.  Looks like I've got a lot of adding to do to that blogroll, after the storm.

This goes to what follows.  I shall have to learn the patience of Job in order to do justice in thanks to all the commenters, e-mails and phone calls which have followed my words and my actions these past few days.

Thank you all, each and every one!  That is all I can do now, for it is time for me now to take leave of my beloved home, to trust her to the hand of God, and the to the will and the effort I have invested to keep her safe against the storm.

I shall drive away, unwillingly.  But drive I must, if only to not subject the pure love of my two cats to the hell that is due to descend upon these docks in but thirty-six hours time.

My course is uncharted, the waters strange and the waves of patterns yet to be learned.

But I will sail into this future determinedly.  It is the only future I have, it is the only course I can sail.

Finally, a word to friends, everywhere.  Please, please refrain from dialing my cel until the middle of next week.  I will be too intent on the minute by minute situation to dwell on the phone; such has cost me precious time today.  And time will compress as the storm draws nigh.  I'm sure the aftermath will present it's own challenges as well.

Know just that I shall be safe, I shall have shelter, I shall not want.  That, and I'm armed to the freakin' teeth, and I'll drop any sonofabitch who even thinks of carjacking the geezermobile not-so-New Dawn.

As I find 'net access in the coming days, I'll provide updates as to my status.  And as soon as I can return to this small peninsula which divides the backside of Galveston Island from the InterCoastal Waterway and the mainland beyond, I shall provide whatever report there is to give as to the fate of the New Dawn.

Once more I ask, prayers for her safety through the storm. 

That is all.  Carry on.

Captain, Sloop New Dawn; Departing!

Comments

[Bonita]

I've done a lot of canoeing in bad weather and a lot of portaging when the wind 'took us out' - I know how you feel, I admire your courage, and you definitely have my prayers.

[Tammy]

Jim , looks like you have everything figured out and your on your way to a safe place , I hope and pray that the boat will be there when you return , look forward to hearing from you when this is all over with ...BE SAFE AND DRIVE CAREFUL

[Geoffrey]

Good luck! You're on my prayer list.

[MK]

Jim
You know that my thoughts and prayers go with you....be safe, drive careful, and update us when you can.

[Addison]

Good luck, and best wishes. Glad to see you're leaving.

[Bob]

Glad you are leaving... God speed and I will await your return!

[Laurence Simon]

Malkin and Charles Johnson are my Blog Gods.

[Jay G]

Best of luck, Jim.

Here's hoping that heartless bitch Rita misses Sloop New Dawn.

Slainté!

[Aquila]

All the best, Jim. I'm keeping you and New Dawn in my prayers. I'm glad you didn't decide to ride out that monster storm, did think you might sail for calmer waters, but I'm sure you thought about what was best. God speed, Captain.

[hurricane]

Track Hurricane Rita here

I've provided a useful link for tracking hurricane rita.

Please everybody, be careful, be safe, and God speed.

Thanks,
Blake

[Mordwyn]

Be safe Capt. If there is any doubt, you made the right choice.

[Dana]

I've been thinking of you since yesterday...and praying. I was going to call, but our calls always seem so hurried anyway, and I knew you'd be packing up to head to distant ground.

You're in my thoughts.

[Kevin Baker]

Good luck to the New Dawn.

I know you'll be OK, you old fart!

[Russ]

Safe journey and (if it's not too cruel to say so) fair winds, Jim.

Hope you have a good collection of stogies to see you through!

[Da Goddess]

I'm praying for your safety and that your dear New Dawn survives the storm.

Peace to you, Jim.

[fillygirl]

Best wishes, Jim, for you, the cats, and the New Dawn. Praying that you'll all be safe...
Godspeed.

[Key]

Jim,
It has taken me until today to get my butt over here to read your eight Rita posts, but I've been thinking of you since seeing the first projection.
Please do keep us posted; I know I've been a poor reader and a scant bloogger lately, but I'm only a call or email away if you need me, hon.
(...And I LOVE that pic of you and Harley!)

[Anne]

Take care, Jim, and good luck.

We'll be hoping to hear from you soon.

[Velociman]

Good luck, my man. Good luck.